Digging Deeper into Discipleship

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Are We off Track?

Recalling that Satan is a master of distraction, has the church been coaxed off track? I suspect that many local churches are off track. Let’s think about some things that get a lot of attention in a local church. Let me list a few: income, expenses, grounds, buildings, projects, programs, meals, advertising, leaders, etc. All of these may be necessary and important, but are they shifting our focus from what matters most? What is it that matters most? These top the list: He does! Knowing Him, loving Him worshiping Him, honoring Him, spending time with Him, obeying Him, inviting others to know Him, etc. These are the real priorities for a local church and to focus on them means that we must engage in edification and evangelism. This is what Paul was pointing out in Ephesians 4:11-15: “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.” .Which receives the most attention in your church and mine? Is it the secondary things that we mentioned first, or are these secondary to edification and evangelism? Unless they are, we are off track! Satan has us majoring on minors. If he does, let us who truly know Jesus as Savior and Lord do all we can to restore our focus on what matters most. All else should be marginal. Timothy Dwight appears to have the right focus in his hymn, “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord!” He wrote: “I love Thy kingdom, Lord, the house of Thine abode, the church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood. I love Thy church, O God. Her walls before Thee stand, dear as the apple of Thine eye, and graven on Thy hand. For her my tears shall fall; for her my prayers ascend; to her my cares and toils be given, till toils and cares shall end. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways: her sweet communion, solemn vows, her hymns of love and praise. Sure as thy truth shall last, to Zion shall be given the brightest glories earth can yield, and brighter bliss of heaven.” Selah! If we are off focus, we pose no threat to Satan’s agenda! RonQuestions? E-Mail me atknowingtheway1@gmail.com